ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Patients with unilateral breast cancer are at a higher risk according to the normal population for the presence of cancer in the contralateral breast. Determining the factors that increase the risk of developing bilateral breast cancer provides detection the contralateral breast cancer at an early stage, the possibility of breast conservation surgery, a high disease-free survival rate and prolongation of life.

Patients and Methods:

Between July 2006 and September 2011, 311 women were treated for primary operable breast cancer, and data was analyzed retrospectively. 10 (3.2%) revealed synchronous bilateral breast cancer, the clinical and histopathologic features of these tumors were evaluated.

Results:

The median age of the patients with bilateral breast cancer was 42 (28-55) years. Two (20%) of synchronous patients revealed positive family history. Six (60%) patients were in premenopausal status. 15 (75%) of them progesterone receptor positivity, and 3 (30%) of them multicentricity were recorded. 3 (15%) tumors was developed in fibrocystic area. The most common histopathologic type was invasive ductal carcinoma [16 (% 80)].

Conclusion:

Patients with risk factors such as young age, multicentric disease, developed in fibrocystic area, positivity for progesterone receptor and family history should be evaluated carefully because of the risk of developing bilateral breast cancer.